A ship of 924 tons, Bebington was built in
1859. She had, amongst her many passengers, the unenviable nickname of "The Old
Tub" and was one of the slowest boats on the New Zealand immigrant run. Even under
very favourable conditions, she still took longer than most to make the voyage out. In
addition she was dogged by ill-fortune. Collisions with other ships, storms, outbreaks of
typhoid and short supplies all at one time or another plagued "The Old Tub". Bebington
made eight voyages to New Zealand of which three were to Lyttleton, two to Wellington and
one each to Dunedin, Auckland and Napier. On her arrival in Auckland on July 15th 1876, Bebington
was met by the Health Officer at Rangitoto Reef. There being typhoid and 67 cases of
measles on board he sent her into quarantine on Motuihe Island where she remained for 5 weeks. Source: White Wings - Sir Henry Brett